2/28/2013

ABC Nail Challenge: H is for Half Moon

This week we are on the letter H for the ABC Nail Challenge and I was hoping to use a nail polish that's name began with a H but I only had a few and they weren't my favs. This was kinda a rushed mani and that's why I didn't get the post up last night  :(  Anyway, I chose to do a half moon manicure even though this isn't a look I love. I only tried it once last year because it was required in the other nail challenge I participated in. I remember not liking the outcome at all and it being hard to get all the moon shapes equal in size. I wouldn't say these came out great but I guess there not too horrible.

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Radiant by Revlon

The colors I used for this look were: Snow me white by Sinful Colors for the moon and Fashionista by Revlon for the top color. Fashionista is a dark saturated teal cream shade and the consistency is almost perfect making it very easy to apply. This color always looks better in person than it does in the pictures; it doesn't look as patchy. I added a coat of Radiant by Revlon to my accent nail. Radiant has a blue clear tinted base with blue glitter and larger green and silver hexagon shaped glitter. It's perfect for layering over Fashionista since the colors are so similar. Then of course used Seche Vite for my top coat.

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Fashionista by Revlon-Sorry for the blurry pic :(

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Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat

I used those hole reinforcement stickers for the first few nails but those things don't like to stick too well to your nail so then I used french manicure guides for the rest of the nails. That's why some of them have a neater line than others. If I wasn't in a rush I probably would have started over again.

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Now I'm off to see what the rest of the ladies came up with this week. Make sure to check them out too, they always come up with great looks :)



Click the links below :)

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2/25/2013

Monday February 25 2013 BLOG HOP!



Monday Beauties Blog Hop February 25 2013


Hello Beauty Lovers and Bloggers! :) Welcome back to Monday Beauties blog hop! Where I hope to create a place where bloggers can come together and share their links in a friendly and supportive manner! If you are saying "What the hell is a blog hop?" just click here and it will explain EVERYTHING:)


Now let's get to business: Here are the very simple rules:


1. Subscribe to my blog via GFC and leave a comment below to let me know you are following (with your link) so I can follow back :)
Click here to follow :)


2. Add your blog URL to the Linky Below! (make sure to include http://www.)


3. Check out as many blogs as you want and if you decide to follow leave a comment letting them know that you have subscribed and found them on Monday Beauties Blog hop! :)


4. Check out the featured blogs! :)


OPTIONAL If you want to be really nice to me! :)


♥ Grab the blog hop button and place it somewhere on your blog or in a blog post. (remember you will need to re-enter your blog every week, so you can make this a weekly post). You can grab the blog button from the sidebar of my blog.


♥ Follow me on Twitter and like my Facebook page :)


Please share with your subscribers! If you share on twitter use the hashtag #mondaybeauties so we can retweet :)


**I will choose 2 blogs each week via Random.org(random number generator) and mention them in the next weekly hop as "Featured blogs"



Thanks so much for participating! :) Lets Begin


Featured Blogs:



2/24/2013

Sharing is Loving! My Weekly Round Up!

Hey Beauties!!

So I decided to link up with My So-Called Chaos and High-Heeled Love in there weekly round up. I think it's such a great idea to give love to other bloggers and share what they have posted.


The whole idea of the weekly round up is to share the posts that you really liked or inspired you in some sort of way during the week and list them for your readers to see. I'm going to do this every Sunday from now on!! 

Here are some of my favorite posts I read over the week, these are just some, there were a lot more. 

* Janna from Gloss and Glitz who is one of my best blogger friends had a huge announcement to share in her post. She was MIA for a bit and had a really good reason for it. She told us that she is having a baby!!! I was extremely happy for her and you could just tell how happy she was in her video. I told her that not only is she going to be a terrific mom, she's also going to be a huge MILF!!! lol :)

* One of my other best blogger friends, Nykki from  Nykki-Talks-Beauty wrote a funny post on her love for monkeys and her day at the zoo with her niece and nephew. I loved the part when she said she really wanted to take the monkey home and her 5 yr. old niece said no! lol

* If you know me then you know that I'm a nail polish junkie so I love reading anything nail polish related. I came across a post on Makeup Savvy.co.uk called Favorite Nail Polish Essentials. She shared her favorite base coats, top coats, matte top coats and black and white polishes. I now have a few new nail polishes on my shopping list thank to her post!

* Beautyqueenuk wrote a post this week on the Yes To Carrots Feel the C Pampering hand and nail spa product.  Just like her I always feel like my hands and nails are dry so I'm always looking out for moisturizers that will actually help. I like reading product reviews by bloggers I trust. Not only does she tell you what the product is and what it does, she also goes into detail on how and why you should use it. Another product added to my shopping list!!

* I've heard very little about the new Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation and haven't seen it in any stores here yet. I've still been very curious about it though because I really like Rimmel's Lasting Finish 25 hour foundation.  Kimberley's Blog had a really thorough review on this product. She gave some pros and cons which really helped determine if this foundation is a good fit for my skin type. I think I will give it a try when it comes over to the U.S.



Click the links below :)



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2/23/2013

Throwback Saturday- Bobbi Brown's Tips on Blush!

Hey Dolls! I hope everyone is enjoying there weekend! It's Throwback Saturday so I kinda randomly picked one of my "Beauty Tip of the Week" posts that I used to do. If you've been following my blog since the beginning you probably remember that every Wednesday I posted a beauty tip. I'm thinking about maybe starting that again, I stopped because I started running out of tips to share with you guys. Let me know if you like reading beauty tips, if you do I will start that up again :) The post below was written on November 16th, 2011 and it's tips on how to apply blush from Bobbi Brown. I'll shut up now and let you read the post :)


Beauty Tip of the Week

JUST ADD COLOR!

BOBBI BROWN'S TIPS ON BLUSH

I'm sure you have all heard of the makeup artist Bobbi Brown or at least of her makeup products. If you haven't she's an internationally reowned makeup artist and CEO of Bobbi Brown Cosmetics. Her products are sold in more than 400 stores and 20 countries worldwide. In addition to her creating cover looks for magazines, working with models, fashion shows, etc. She's also the author of two New York Times bestsellers. I have one of her books, Bobbi Brown Beauty Evolution. It's a really good book and she's filled with tons of tips and tricks.

So for this week's beauty tip I thought I would share a few of her tips on blush and give you a break from my boring tips lol. She has a whole chapter dedicated to blush and its called Just Add Color. Here are some of Bobbi Brown's best tips when it comes to wearing blush:

Bobbi's Guide to Just the Right Blush of Color
  • Porcelain Skin: Pale pink or pastel apricot (never use bronzer or brown toned blush; it will look dirty on your light skin)
  • Fair Skin: Sandy pink tones
  • Medium Skin: Tawny brownish pinks
  • Tan Skin: Deeper brownish  rose
  • Latin or light black skin: Plum, golden brown,  or deep rose
  • Black Skin: Dark or deep bronze or deep red
  • The second shade: For an extra pop of color: choose anything that's a bit brighter than your regular blush and one that works well with your lipstick

Bobbi's Blush Rules
  • Find a color that makes you instantly healthy
  • The right blush should practically blend itself. If you have to work to blend it, the color is too dark or too bright.
  • Own two different shades: one that looks totally natural and is the color of naturally flushed cheeks, and one that's a bit brighter for a pop of color
  • In a pinch, use your lipstick on your cheeks as you would cream blush

To apply, smile at yourself in the mirror and dab the blush on the apple of cheek, blending up into the hairline. The trick is to also blend down to truly soften the color and make it look like it belongs on your cheeks. Then add a pop of a brighter color just on the apple of the cheeks to guarantee that you don't look washed out in an hour. The same basic technique applies to using cream blush.  Dot it on the apple of the cheek and use your finger to blend it up to the hairline and down. 

Is this how you usually apply blush or do you have a different technique? I personally never check to make sure my blush practically blends into my skin like I do with foundation. I hope I haven't been walking around looking like a clown! lol



Click the links below :)
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2/20/2013

ABC Nail Challenge: Letter G

Hey Everyone!! This week is letter G for the ABC Challenge and I decided to do a Gold Glitter mani. I think I'll always love glitter polishes no matter year, season or day it is.  I also did some nail art using scotch tape.


I used Black Out by Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear for my base on all my nails except my ring finger. Then I applied a coat of Seche Vite and let them dry for a good 20 minutes. With two pieces of regular Scotch tape I made a triangle shape to place on my nails and filled in the area with a coat of Gold Coin by Revlon. While the polish was still wet I carefully removed the tape. Once I did all my nails I applied another coat of Seche Vite, can you tell that's my favorite top coat? :)


On my ringer finger I used Milani's Jewl FX  in Gold. I have a few of the other polishes in the Jewel FX collection and there more of a fine glitter but this one takes it up a few notches. To me this isn't normal glitter polish, it's like a dense layer of miniature sequences in a clear base. You can't paint it on like usual, for me I found it easiest to just apply a few blobs and use a toothpick to separate the glitter until my whole nail was covered. 


I'm excited to check out all the other ladies nail looks this week!! If you want to take part of this challenge just go to Kimber's Laquer Korner and let her know you're interested!!:)


Click the links below :)

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2/18/2013

Blue & Pink Ombre Nails!

I know the whole Ombre trend was last year but I decided to try them out on my nails (I know I'm behind the times lol). I'm actually surprised that this was my first time since I love trying new nail art trends.

But anyway, I just wanted to do a quick post showing you how they came out. I didn't pick the usual lighter to darker colors within the same shade. I used Scandal and Savage by Sinful Colors because I think they look gorgeous together.


If anything the color combo reminds me of spring/summer or a bright sunny day. A few of the nails didn't blend together as well as I would have liked but its okay.

This was one of the easiest nail art looks I've done. I applied 2 coats of white polish as my base. I cut one of those white makeup sponges in half and used the flat side to paint one half blue and the other pink. Then I just aligned the sponge up with my nail and kept dabbing onto my nails and then repeated the process of painting the sponge and dabbing. So I did two coats using the sponge. (If that made any sense). Adding a coat of Seche Vite makes such a difference, before they looked a little splotchy but the topcoat made them look nice and shiny!!!

What do you think of my blue and pink ombre nails?


Click the links below :)

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Monday February 18 2013 BLOG HOP!



Monday Beauties Blog Hop February 18 2013



Hello Beauty Lovers and Bloggers! :) Welcome back to Monday Beauties blog hop! Where I hope to create a place where bloggers can come together and share their links in a friendly and supportive manner! If you are saying "What the hell is a blog hop?" just click here and it will explain EVERYTHING:)


Now let's get to business: Here are the very simple rules:


1. Subscribe to my blog via GFC and leave a comment below to let me know you are following (with your link) so I can follow back :)
Click here to follow :)


2. Add your blog URL to the Linky Below! (make sure to include http://www.)


3. Check out as many blogs as you want and if you decide to follow leave a comment letting them know that you have subscribed and found them on Monday Beauties Blog hop! :)


4. Check out the featured blogs! :)


OPTIONAL If you want to be really nice to me! :)


♥ Grab the blog hop button and place it somewhere on your blog or in a blog post. (remember you will need to re-enter your blog every week, so you can make this a weekly post). You can grab the blog button from the sidebar of my blog.


♥ Follow me on Twitter and like my Facebook page :)


Please share with your subscribers! If you share on twitter use the hashtag #mondaybeauties so we can retweet :)


**I will choose 2 blogs each week via Random.org(random number generator) and mention them in the next weekly hop as "Featured blogs"



Thanks so much for participating! :) Lets Begin


Featured Blogs:




2/15/2013

Rimmel Scandal Eyes Show Off Mascara; Review

I am so picky when it comes to mascara. It seems like I've tried so many but have only been really impressed with a few. So, it's rare when I find a mascara that I feel is worth mentioning.  Rimmel Scandal Eyes Show Off  is worth a mention in my opinion. I picked this up at CVS about a month ago and have been using it ever since.

Rimmel Scandal Eyes Show Off Mascara; $6.99 at drugstores

The selling point of this mascara is the unique flat brush with the round bristly ball at the end. According to Rimmel, the flat side of the brush is what gives you the volume and the ball tip is for lifting and defining. I can honestly say that I agree. The round ball at the end is also good for getting those hard to reach lashes in the corner. 


One of the reasons I like this mascara is because the application is super easy, no mess, no clumps or anything even after two coats. In the before picture below my lashes are curled with no mascara and the after picture is with two coats. I only have a very light coat on my bottom lashes. (Sorry about the pictures guys, I don't know why the rims of my eyes look so pink and scary).


Overall, I like this mascara, I mean it doesn't look like I have false lashes or anything but it does the job. It gave me length, some volume and the ball tip is excellent at separating my lashes. It stays put and my lashes look exactly the same at the end of the day. Oh, and you have to love the bright purple packaging, at least I do. I feel like Rimmel's products are usually hit or miss so it's nice that this is actually a hit. You can't beat the price either, I got mine at CVS for $6.99. 

Have you tried this mascara, if so what do you think?


Click the links below :)
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2/13/2013

Check out this GREAT GIVEAWAY!!!!

Meet Me on the Bright Side is currently having a giveaway!!! You really should check it out to see all the awseome prizes in detail!!! Click here to enter!!




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ABC Nail Challenge: Letter F

Hey Everyone!! This is my second week doing the ABC Nail Challenge and I'm really having fun with it so far!! So this week is the letter F and I decided to go with a French manicure. I love French manicures because there are so many different looks you can create. I had a vision in my head of what I wanted my nails to look like, and then I got a little carried away... But this is what I finally came up with.

The camera made the rhinestones look mushed together & the two white dots on the tips of my ring and middle finger must be from the camera too! 


I used 2 coats of Social Ladder by Sinful Colors as my base, it's a pretty pinkish/pearl shade. Then for the tips I used a basic black and a silver striping polish for the glitter.  I used a heart image from one of the stamping plates that came in the  As Seen On TV Salon Express Stamping Kit I bought last year. I did a full review on it here if you're interested. I've only tried stamping twice because I'm really horrible at it! That explains the lopsided heart on my ring finger lol, but I really didn't want to start all over again. I used a few rhinestones to give it a Happy Valentines Day touch then topped it off with some SV.



I'm pretty pleased with how they came out, like I said before the pictures make them look a bit sloppy. Anyway, I had fun putting this mani together and I'm looking forward to seeing everyone else's nails this week. 

Happy Valentines Day Lovies!!!!

Click the links below :)

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2/09/2013

Throwback Saturday- What are you thinking today?

I was looking through my old posts and came across a post I did in 2011, What are you thinking today? It was a random list of questions I came up with for myself and you guys to answer. It was a fun way to get to know my readers better and I really enjoyed reading everyone's answers. So I thought it might be fun to do it again using the same questions I did 2 years ago.

It's really simple, I will post the set of questions below my answers so you can easily copy and paste the questions into the comment box and answer them.


1. Current Mood: Okay I guess, It would be better except that there's so much snow outside that I'm stuck in the house.

2. Current Beauty Product Craving: I really want the Tria Hair Laser Remover but since it's $500 it will be a while before I get it.

3. On your nails right now:  Navigate Her by Essie, I used this for week E of the ABC Nail Challenge.

4. Plans for the day/night: I was supposed to go to the doctors and then go out for dinner with a few friends but I guess mother nature had different plans for me.

5. Current Hair Look: My hair is up in a messy bun right now.

6. Favorite/Most used eyeshadow/palette of the month: Too Faced Natural Eye Collection palette. I love the colors and I can use it for day and night looks.

7. Latest blog post or YouTube videoABC Nail Challenge: Letter E

8. Current Facial Moisturizer:  I've been using Clinique's Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief gel moisturizer. It's probably one of the best moisturizers I've tried.

9. Looking forward to this month: I'm gonna have to say I'm looking forward to this month ending because then spring will be closer.

10. Current outfit:  Just jeans and a pink v-neck sweater.


Okay now its your turn!! Here are the questions so you can copy them. You can also do this as a blog post if you want. I'm looking forward to reading your answers!!:)

Here is the list:
1. Current Mood: 
2. Current Beauty Product Craving: 
3. On your nails right now: 
4. Plans for the day/night:
5. Current Hair Look: 
6. Favorite eyeshadow/palette of the month:
7. Latest blog post or YouTube video:
8. Current Facial Moisturizer: 
9. Looking forward to this month:

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2/06/2013

ABC Nail Challenge; Letter E

Hey Everyone! I'm really excited about this post today. I'm participating in another challenge, the ABC Nail Challenge hosted by Kimber at Kimber's Lacquer Korner. I love doing weekly nail challenges because it helps me to come up with different nail looks that I might have not thought of on my own. The challenge is simple, once a week (Wednesday's) you post a polish or style of nail art whose name or brand begins with the corresponding letter. Fun, right? I missed the first four weeks since I just found about the challenge but it's okay!

This week is the letter E, I was really hoping to do some nail art but couldn't think of anything that started with E. I was looking through my polishes and found Essie's Navigate Her from there 2012 Spring/Summer collection. I bought this last year and never used it so decided that it would be perfect for this week. Navigate Her is a soft pastel green with subtle warm yellow undertones. The yellow component helps the color from becoming more of a minty green shade and gives it more warmth.



For this mani I used my Nails Alive basecoat that I love, two coats of Navigate Her and then a coat of Seche Vite top coat.


Navigate Her was opaque with two coats, the first coat was a little streaky but it was opaque and even with the second coat. The consistency was neither thick or thin so it applied evenly without any trouble. I wasn't sure if I was going to love this color on me but I'm liking it and reminds me of spring!

The color is lighter than it looks in these pictures.

I'm already thinking about something fun for next week's post! Take a look at what all the other ladies participating in this challenge came up with :)


Click the links below :)
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2/05/2013

TAG: 50 Random Facts About Me..

I've seem this tag go around the blogosphere recently and decided to do it too. For the past few days I've been jotting random facts into my phone as they popped into my head. I hope this gives you a chance to get to know me a little better. I have to warn you though, you might get really bored or think I'm a little crazy while reading this.. :)


 


1. I've never been a sports fan and think watching games on TV are really boring. 

2. My middle name is Elizabeth along with all my female cousins because that's my grandmothers name.

3. I've always been scared of talking in front of a large group of people.

4. I tend to procrastinate with things that aren't high on my to-do list.

5. I always feel the need to have some kind of tan.

6. I was born in New York and moved to Connecticut when I was 11.

7. I love all kinds of music and I mean everything from 80's to rap to rock to pop with the exception of country music

8. I don't like the taste of soda, so I usually drink Gatorade, juice or water.

9. I had my gallbladder taken out when I was 15 years old because I had gallstones. It was the worst pain I've ever felt.

10. I'm one of those people that constantly changes the radio stations every two seconds in the car. I'm pretty sure it annoys everyone.

11. I only have one younger brother that's 26.

12. I'm really good at finding cards that suite everyone.

13. I had an eating disorder from the ages of 17 to 21.

14. When I was younger my cousin and I would reenact dance scenes from the movie Dirty Dancing. ha ha!

15. I've read 50 Shades of Grey and actually really liked it.

16. My favorite type of food is Mexican (non spicy) but I hardly ever get to eat it.

17. I really like reality TV, it's entertaining even though its garbage.

18. Mostly all the people that live in my town are Italian (and I'm not). When we first moved here I would tell the kids in my 5th grade class I was so they didn't think I was weird.

19. I exercise either at the gym or at home every day or every other and if I don't I feel like crap.

20. I'm so indecisive when I'm shopping, it really annoys me because I never used to be like this.

21. I'm obsessed with my phone and would be lost without it.

22. I hate listening to the sound of my voice.

23. I still have magazines from when I was a teenager (Seventeen, Teen Vogue) and won't throw them away. Can you say magazine hoarder?

24. The one word I always spell wrong is definitely, thank god for spell check

25. I'm a picky eater I don't like a lot of meat or vegetables. 

26. I'm not really into going to the mall that much anymore. 

27. I have no tattoos and peircings expect for my ears.

28. I'm not a big fan of going to the movies. Every time I do go, the movie stinks and I want to leave.

29. My nicknames are; Kel, Kellabella, Kels, and K.

30. My favorite color combo is purple and black.

31. I have 4 mirrors in my room.

32. I get really nervous when a huge truck is in the lane next to me on the highway.

33. I can't drink coffee from Starbucks, my heart starts to race and I get all jittery.

34. I don't like to talk on the phone that much anymore, I would rather text.

35. I've never gotten the flu (knock on wood).

36. I'm shy for the first few minutes of meeting someone.

37. I can't just sit around and relax, I have to be doing something or I get really bored.

38. I'm not a good cook, probably because I never tried to learn.

39. I've only been on a airplane once and that was to go to the Bahamas.

40. I had braces from the 5th grade until the 8th grade and hated them! Now Im grateful I got them. 

41. I've been known to complain about silly things.

42. I'm allergic to cats and wouldn't want one even if I wasn't.

43. I have the best parents in the world, they would and have done so much for me.

44. I've struggled with anxiety for about 4 years but thankfully I have it under control now.

45. My favorite kinds of books are mysteries and I really like James Patterson and Stephen King books.

46. I can't fall asleep without the TV on, it actually takes me longer to fall asleep if its off.

47. January, February and March are my least favorite months, I just think there boring.

48. I don't like taking naps during the day because I wake up grumpy and it throws off my whole day.

49. I dread job interviews, always have. I get so nervous and worked up before the interview. 

50. I love New York City especially around Christmas time.


Well there you go...If you've done this tag or end up doing it let me know so I can read it!


Click the links below :)
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2/04/2013

Monday February 4 2013 BLOG HOP!



Monday Beauties Blog Hop February 4, 2013



Hello Beauty Lovers and Bloggers! :) Welcome back to Monday Beauties blog hop! Where I hope to create a place where bloggers can come together and share their links in a friendly and supportive manner! If you are saying "What the hell is a blog hop?" just click here and it will explain EVERYTHING:)


Now let's get to business: Here are the very simple rules:


1. Subscribe to my blog via GFC and leave a comment below to let me know you are following (with your link) so I can follow back :)
Click here to follow :)


2. Add your blog URL to the Linky Below! (make sure to include http://www.)


3. Check out as many blogs as you want and if you decide to follow leave a comment letting them know that you have subscribed and found them on Monday Beauties Blog hop! :)


4. Check out the featured blogs! :)


OPTIONAL If you want to be really nice to me! :)


♥ Grab the blog hop button and place it somewhere on your blog or in a blog post. (remember you will need to re-enter your blog every week, so you can make this a weekly post). You can grab the blog button from the sidebar of my blog.


♥ Follow me on Twitter and like my Facebook page :)


Please share with your subscribers! If you share on twitter use the hashtag #mondaybeauties so we can retweet :)


**I will choose 2 blogs each week via Random.org(random number generator) and mention them in the next weekly hop as "Featured blogs"


Thanks so much for participating! :) Lets Begin



Featured Blogs:



2/02/2013

Throwback Saturday- Blogger vs. Wordpress

Hey Everyone I hope your enjoying your weekend so far!! I'm sure a lot of you are excited because tomorrow is Superbowl Sunday. Me on the other hand, I don't really care too much. I'm not a big sports person but I get how it could feel like a national holiday for some hard core football fans. The parties and food are fun though :)

Anyway for Throwback Saturday I picked a non beauty related post from back in the day to show you. Blogger vs. Wordpress, I wrote this post on October 24th, 2011. For the first 3 months of my blog I used Wordpress and didn't like it, so I switched everything over to Blogger. It was pretty easy to do but if I had done my research first I would have started with Blogger. Maybe this post might help someone who is thinking of changing to either platforms. Click here to check it out. Let me know what you think if you haven't read it yet.


Click the links below :)

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2/01/2013

Blog Button Swap!!

Ever since I changed my blog button and blog layout a few months ago I've been wanting to do a Blog Button Swap. (no charge)

If you are interested in swapping buttons (I will put your blog button on the page I made just for your buttons and then you put my button on your blog). Please either send me a tweet @kellabel or email me at kelbananas14@yahoo.com

 Here is my blog button for anyone interested, also if you already have my button on your blog please let me know so I can add yours :)))



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